1. Stacy Lewis

But can she do it again? Lewis just wrapped up a terrific season, ending an 18-year American drought in the Player of the Year race and we’re already wanting more. Next up for Lewis: Overtake Yani Tseng in the Rolex Rankings. There’s still a lot of ground to cover, and Lewis will be feeling even more pressure now that she has raised the bar. Should be a fun show.

• • •

2. Yani Tseng

Which Yani will greet us in 2013? Honestly, it’s hard to predict. Tseng said all the right things at the end of the year, indicating that the rough patches in 2012 could be nothing more than a blessing in disguise. She talked about appreciating things more, working harder and becoming more disciplined. But it’s all just talk if she can’t play with confidence. What she needs is an early win.

• • •

3. So Yeon Ryu

Anyone else feel like Ryu is about to have a monster year? The LPGA’s Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year was extremely solid: 16 top-10s, second on the tour in GIR putts, second in scoring, second in birdies. She shot a blazing 62 on Sunday to win the Jamie Farr. The 2011 U.S. Women’s Open winner transitioned nicely to the LPGA in 2012. She’ll only get better.

• • •

4. Inbee Park

It’s hard to overlook Park after she ripped through the second half of 2012, posting six runner-up finishes and two victories. Park won the money title and the Vare Trophy, and gave Stacy Lewis all she could handle in the POY race. She led the tour in two putting categories and recorded 10 consecutive top-10 finishes in 2012. Park will likely remain overshadowed next year, but that just means she’s playing with less pressure. Look out.

• • •

5. Chie Arimura

The Japanese media made their way out to Daytona Beach, Fla., to watch a player ranked 19th in the world try to earn her card at Q-School. It wasn’t quite the hubbub caused by compatriot Ai Miyazato a few years back, but enough to know that Arimura is a star in her native Japan. A 13-time winner on the JLPGA, it doesn’t take long to figure out that this rookie means business.

• • •

6. Austin Ernst

Left LSU after two years and one NCAA Championship title. She’s got a confidence about her that’s fun and entertaining. Ernst said she’s been “living the dream” since she quit school and started treating golf like a 9-to-5 job. She’ll set high goals for 2013, and her attitude just might take her there.

• • •

7. Brooke Pancake

Smart-as-a-whip Alabama grad is the quintessential All-American, Southern charmer. Pancake (definitely the best name in the rookie class), won the 2012 Honda Award as the nation’s top golfer after leading the Tide to their first NCAA Championship last May. The LPGA could use a whole stack of Pancakes. Seriously.

• • •

8. Lizette Salas

Scrappy player made 16 of 18 cuts in her rookie year, finishing 51st on the money list. U.S. Solheim Cup captain Meg Mallon spent time watching the USC grad at the CME Group Titleholders. Birdied all three playoff holes to earn her card in December 2011, earning the nickname “Miss Clutch.” She’s easy to root for.

• • •

9. Moriya Jutanugarn

She’s been a “little pro” for years, leaving Thailand to travel the U.S. with her sister for months at a time. This will be the first year the pair have been apart for any length of time and it will be interesting to see how they react. Jutanugarn is good, but her game hasn’t been tested at this level all that much.

• • •

10. Gerina Piller

Made great strides in 2012, doubling the number of cuts made, finishing 48th on the money list and placing sixth at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. A few veteran Americans took the Texan under their wings and will be pulling for her to get into the Solheim Cup mix next year. She’s currently 15th in points.

A. Lee among pack of collegians headed to LPGA

Nobody handed Cheyenne Woods an LPGA card. She earned it the old-fashioned way, playing on developmental tours to earn her stripes and then grinding over a 3-footer for par on her 90th hole of LPGA Q-School to realize a lifelong dream.

Lee's solid play could bring UCLA career to a close

Cheyenne Woods showed the kind of resolve it takes to survive LPGA Q-School; One day after posting a head-scratching 79, Woods came to the more forgiving Jones Course at LPGA International and notched seven birdies.

Cheyenne Woods bounces back at LPGA Q-School

Cheyenne Woods bounced back in the third round of LPGA Q-School's final stage with a 67.
(
Mark Sims / LPGA Tour
)

Stacy Lewis swept LPGA postseason honors, winning Rolex Player of the Year, the Vare Trophy and the money title, but she had to share the spotlight with Lydia Ko, who won the CME Group Tour Championship and the CME Race to the Globe bonus check Sunday in Naples, Fla.

Julieta Granada won the first $1 million payout in LPGA history as a rookie in 2006 at the ADT Championship. Funny how Granada has found her way back to the top now that a $1 million prize has returned to the tour.

Granada leads LPGA finale, drama heightens

Julieta Granada, who hasn't won on the LPGA tour since 2006, leads the CME Group Tour Championship by a single shot entering the final round.
(
Associated Press
)

It didn’t take long for Stacy Lewis to start crunching numbers. Moments after she wrapped her post-round interview, Lewis headed to the back of the room to look at a closer breakdown of Race to the Globe scenarios.

For Lewis, LPGA finale all about scenarios

After finishing the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship, Stacy Lewis spent time considering the scenarios that could play out in the final round.
(
Associated Press
)

No one can cause a stir on the red carpet like Michelle Wie. And when she follows an evening of glamor with a smooth 67 to vault up the leaderboard at the CME Group Tour Championship, well, it’s doubly fantastic for the LPGA.

Red-carpet star Wie climbs leaderboard in Naples

Michelle Wie during the Rolex Awards Banquet in Naples. Through 36 holes of the CME Group Tour Championship, Wie is two shots off the lead.
(
Photo Courtesy of LPGA/Gabriel Roux
)